Partnership Manager at The Nature Conservancy

OFFICE LOCATION

Lusaka, Zambia

This role will be based in Lusaka Zambia.

Who We Are

The Nature Conservancy’s mission is to protect the lands and waters upon which all life depends. As a science-based organization, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges to create a world where people and nature thrive. We’re rooted in our Mission and guided by our Values, which include a Commitment to Diversity and Respect for People, Communities, and Cultures. Whether it’s career development, flexible schedules, or a rewarding mission, there are many reasons to love life #insideTNC. Want better insight into TNC? Check out our TNC Talent playlist on YouTube or Glassdoor .

Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive work environment so that all our colleagues around the globe feel a sense of belonging and that their unique contributions to our mission are valued. We know we’ll only achieve our Mission by hiring and engaging a diverse workforce that reflects the communities in which we work. In addition to the requirements in our postings, we recognize that people come with talent and experiences outside of a job. Diversity of knowledge and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of inclusion! Please apply – we’d love to hear from you. To quote myriad TNC staff members, “you’ll join for our mission, and you’ll stay for our people.”

Since establishing the Africa Programme in 2007, The Nature Conservancy’s vision in Africa is to work towards fostering a sustainable future for people and nature, partnering with indigenous communities across 55 million acres on the continent. Our efforts are firmly rooted in people, leveraging scientific and technical expertise as we collaborate with governments and organizations to conserve and enhance Africa’s shared resources in the nine countries we operate.

TNC’s work in Africa transcends three key pillars: securing ownership rights to lands and resources for indigenous people, strengthening leadership and resource management, and helping communities value nature through a holistic appreciation of its benefits while increasing revenue streams for conservation efforts and socio-economic development. Together with our partners, we are witnessing critical milestones in integrated land and fisheries management, ocean and source water protection, energy development, and sustainable food production working together and strengthening our resolve in tackling global challenges such as climate change, habitat and biodiversity loss that stands to adversely impact the nearly 1.4 billion people that share Africa.

What We Can Achieve Together

In Zambia, TNC has a primary geographical focus on the Greater Kafue Ecosystem (GKE). This is Zambia’s largest conservation landscape, a 66,000 sq. km complex of exceptional biodiversity value, dominated by the 22,000 sq. km Kafue National Park and nine Game Management Areas (GMAs) under communal tenure that spans an additional 44,000 sq. km. TNC is working with communities and diverse public and private stakeholders in this ecosystem to strengthen community tenure over natural resources, develop effective natural resource governance and management systems, and create sustainable conservation management and revenue generation models for the landscape. One key project which supports this strategy is a five-year $10m USAID-funded Global Development Alliance (GDA) project, the “Eastern Kafue Nature Alliance” (EKNA), which leverages private sector partner resources and expertise to achieve integrated and sustainable outcomes for biodiversity conservation, economic prosperity, sustainable agriculture, human well-being, and natural resource governance in the eastern sector of the GKE. The project is focused on delivering lasting outcomes for nature and people in and around Lunga Luswishi, Mumbwa, Namwala, and Nkala GMAs.

EKNA itself works directly with a wide range of partners in the delivery of these outcomes, from government agencies, traditional leaders, community conservation organizations, and conservation NGOs to a range of private companies. However, the project is also being implemented as part of a wider conservation strategy that itself relies on collaboration with an even larger ecosystem of partners, and for the project to deliver maximum impact and durability, it is essential that it helps to shape, and align to a collective vision for people-centred conservation among the many stakeholders in the landscape. This is an incredible opportunity to work with a wide range of organizations and bring together their interests and capabilities for the long-lasting benefit of people and nature and the restoration of the Kafue’s GMAs to their original purpose of being high-conservation-value buffer zones around the Kafue National Park that generate tangible, long-term benefits for communities.

They will report to the EKNA Chief of Party and will be based at TNC’s office in Lusaka, Zambia.

WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOU

Working closely with the EKNA Chief of Party, the TNC Country Director, and the conservation teams, the Partnership Manager will be primarily responsible for the development and enhancement of partnerships in the Kafue landscape, and leveraging the capabilities of the partners and the relationships to ensure the delivery of outcomes are consistent with the goals of EKNA and the TNC Zambia country strategy.

Specifically, The Partnership Manager

• Works closely with the EKNA partner organizations to further develop and monitor the collective vision, priorities, collective work plans, and objectives of EKNA’s partners, and to communicate these to a wider audience of stakeholders and collaborators.
• Strengthens overall coordination, communication, and collaboration amongst different stakeholders and key actors within the Kafue landscape, including facilitating stakeholder meetings, to improve the overall achievement of shared land and resource management and conservation objectives and forge new collaborations towards common aims and interests. Specific targets and priorities within this area include:
  • Improved outreach, dialogue, and coordination with and between traditional leaders, community organizations, tourism operators, and other private investors in the Kafue GMAs
  • Improved communication and dialogue with key government agencies on issues such as improved governance and management of Kafue’s GMAs, community conservation initiatives, and other landscape-scale conservation planning;
  • Strengthened linkages and collaboration between organizations working on natural resources, development, and wildlife conservation within the landscape, and organizations working on issues of community development, agriculture, and community resource rights.
• Uses a systems approach to negotiate complex and innovative solutions with partners to develop and implement a shared vision.
  • Determine the type and intensity of partner relationships best suited to achieve TNC outcomes and develop appropriate agreements with partners.
  • Negotiate complex and innovative solutions with partners to develop and implement the shared vision.
  • Make recommendations to TNC Zambia leadership about partnership opportunities.
• Is responsible for strategic communications with partners, and for the development and dissemination of materials that communicates and reinforces the strategic vision of EKNA, TNC and its partners, including compiling relevant reports and documents.
• Plays a role in the collection, consolidation, and tracking of different sources of data relevant to understanding and monitoring key natural resource governance and management trends and processes throughout the Kafue landscape.
• Works as part of TNC Zambia’s conservation team, ensuring close communication, collaboration, and learning with peers in the team.
• Through collaboration with TNC Africa’s conservation team, draws lessons from partnership development processes from across TNC Africa’s conservation portfolio and brings them to bear in a Zambian context.
• Works with TNC Zambia’s monitoring and evaluation team to support data management activities and measure outcomes in accordance with EKNA’s and TNC’s M&E frameworks.
• Supports programme management activities such as work planning, budgeting, reporting, and donor engagement
• Works with TNC Communications and Marketing teams to identify and document stories of change and impact within the Kafue landscape
• May require frequent travel domestically and during evening and weekend hours.
• May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, and under physically demanding circumstances.

What You’ll Bring

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree or higher in a relevant field (Business Administration, Agribusiness, Agri financing, Natural resources management/conservation practice, etc.).
• A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in international development projects on biodiversity conservation, conservation-oriented markets, and small and medium-sized agribusinesses programs.
• Full and valid Zambian Driving License

Desired Qualifications

• At least 10 years of relevant experience in international development projects on biodiversity conservation, conservation-oriented market, and investment development, and small and medium-sized agribusiness programs, or related fields.
• Leadership skills, managing similar size projects, and development activities; managing staff; and programmatic and financial reporting,
• Ability to build, and maintain relationships with host governments, stakeholders, and the private sector.
• Excellent report writing, analytical, and communication skills, including oral presentation skills, knowledge management, and dissemination of findings in English.
• Outstanding process facilitation skills; ability to facilitate collaboration with diverse and complex groups of individuals and organizations, to forge and maintain common interests and shared objectives, and guide collective action towards collectively identified goals.
• Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups, and government agencies
• Demonstrable project management experience.
• Respectful of a multitude of means to reach a goal whilst crafting a collaborative approach that is borne and supported by a multitude of actors.
• Demonstrable experience in systems thinking and systems development to support TNC’s conservation actions to be more adaptive, transparent, and evidence-based.
• Supervisory experience, including motivating, leading, and managing performance.
• Skills in facilitating, negotiating, and conflict management in multi-stakeholder environments.
• Proven communication skills in written, spoken, and graphical means in English
• Competence in computer skills (e.g. Excel, Word, etc)
• Demonstrated experience in bringing partners together for a common goal and maintaining trust and collaboration over time.
• Ability to organize and facilitate stakeholder workshops and meetings at multiple levels.
• Ability to work independently with strong self-motivation.
• A passion for Zambia’s wildlife and wild spaces.
• Politically savvy.

What We Bring

Since 1951, TNC has been doing work you can believe in. Through grassroots action, we have grown from a small non-profit into one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Thanks to more than 1 million members, over 400 scientists, and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and partners, we impact conservation around the world!

TNC offers competitive and comprehensive benefits packages tailored to the individual countries where we work. These may include health care benefits, retirement benefits, parental leave, paid time off, life insurance, and disability coverage as well as an employee assistance program and other life and well-being benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our Culture Tab on nature.org/careers.

We’re proud to offer a flexible work environment that supports the health and well-being of the people we employ.

APPLY NOW

To apply for job ID 54157, submit your materials online by using the Apply Now button at https://careers.nature.org/ . Need help applying? Visit our recruitment page or contact [email protected] .

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to diversity includes the recognition that our conservation mission is best advanced by the leadership and contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and culture. Recruiting and mentoring staff to create an inclusive organization that reflects our global character is a priority and we encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

TNC is committed to offering accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please send a note to [email protected] with Request for Accommodation in the subject line.

An attractive salary and benefits package is part of TNC’s value proposition to our employees. TNC strives to provide competitive pay and bases salaries on the geographic location of the role committing to being equitable across groups and providing hiring salary ranges when possible.

Since we support flexible and remote work for our employees, many positions have a flexible location within countries where we’re registered as a Non-government Organization and established as an employer. This may mean we’re unable to provide a hiring salary range in the posting fo r some of our positions. However, candidates invited to be part of our interview process will be provided their location specific range upon request.